THREE more Bradford District arts groups have been awarded a much needed funding boost by the Arts Council.

Earlier this week a number of theatres, museums and art organisations that had taken a financial hit due to the Covid 19 pandemic were awarded cash by Arts Council England.

And today cash for three more groups has been announced.

The Brick Box, a Bradford based group responsible for a number of arts events and installations in the city, including the Wild Woods events that transformed the former Marks & Spencer on Darley Street, have been awarded £70,000.

Ilkley Playhouse will get £60,400 and Hive Bradford, a Shipley based community arts charity, gets £52,000.

The announcement follows news earlier this week that groups like Bradford Theatres, Queensbury based Black Dyke Band and live music venue Nightrain would get funding they needed to continue through the pandemic.

Multi million pound lifeline for Bradford theatres, music venues and arts groups

Today’s recipients are those that applied for grants of under £1 million in the second round of the Culture Recovery Fund. This funding will help organisations create work and performances, and plan for reopening. Although many were still active in lockdown, using creative ways to reach audiences.

Further announcements on the funding administered by Arts Council England will follow soon; applicants for grants of over £1 million, and those that applied to the Repayable Finance programme, will be notified of their outcomes shortly.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “This is more vital funding to protect cultural gems across the country, save jobs and prepare the arts to bounce back. Through Arts Council England we are delivering the biggest ever investment in the arts in record time. Hundreds of millions of pounds are already making their way to thousands of organisations.

“These awards build on our commitment to be here for culture in every part of the country.”

Sarah Maxfield, Area Director North, Arts Council England said: “The pandemic has had a massive impact on the whole range of organisations working in the North’s cultural sector - theatres, music venues, festivals, museums and the companies who support them with technical sound, light and staging services. The cultural sector makes a huge contribution to The North’s economy, quality of life and communities.

"Today we are announcing much needed investment and support from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund to a group of organisations across the North - with more announcements in the coming weeks - providing an essential lifeline so the cultural sector can survive and come back strongly in the future.”